Timber Wolf Lake

Last winter Seth and I found out that he would be serving as a Work Crew boss at a Young Life camp this summer.  He was chosen as a Dining Hall boss and spent two and a half weeks managing about 30 kids in the dining hall and pits (dish-washing) areas.  We weren't exactly sure what that would look like and Seth was a little overwhelmed before we even arrived.  He knew it would be challenging and that we would be tired.

Words cannot describe.

We'd both done Summer Staff before and he had been a Head Leader, but when it came down to it, this was probably the hardest job on the assigned team.  So many young, immature (not all, but a lot), crazy people to manage and so little time to really build meaningful relationships with any of them.  It was hard to push them and ask them to go all out without really knowing anyone and what their stories were.  As the weeks went on we realized there were several kids who were not following Jesus, others who were super new in their faith, others who gave up on their jobs and many who were so distracted by being social that they forgot the reasons we were actually at camp.

While that was discouraging, there were a small few who were sold out for Jesus and did anything we asked. I loved to watch them quietly serve by setting glasses when no one asked and being so attentive to every detail so that every person who sat at their tables would feel as though Christ loved them and noticed them.  It was amazing how the silent people were some of the best workers.  They never complained, always volunteered, and got the job done above average.  I needed to learn from them.  Also, there was an awesome guy named Brad who had Down Syndrome who helped out in the Dining Hall.  More on him another time.


Here's a photo journey into our world for the past three weeks.  Sorry if there are missing links...I couldn't figure out how to delete those bad ones.

Glimpse of our bedroom.  We had a nice closet and vanity too.  And then a connecting bathroom, but we didn't have to share it with anyone.  Lucky!

 Every part of it was so nice.  I felt like it was an awesome home away from home and that they'd thought of every detail.  

 This is the Great Room.  I spent a lot of hours on those tables working from camp (what a blessing that I could go and continue to do my job from Michigan)

 There's also a big long table and a kids playroom behind me.  Perfect since there were so many people and little kids in this building.  Off of the Great Room there are two big wings and a third small one.  Total of 10 suites and could sleep up to 40 people.  Every suite has two rooms and a connecting bathroom (with heated tile floors!!!).  One is a queen bed and the other has two twin beds.  Perfect for families.

The facilities were perfect and equipped with two (or more) of everything.  Refrigerators, Dishwashers, Microwaves, Coffee Pots, & washers and driers--just to name a few.  I feel like they really though through the details and what everyone would need for a month's stay here.  Except maybe a little bit bigger kid room.  Around day 6 they started making forts in the family room with every cushion.  EVERY ONE.  They did this daily.  

It was hard to work sometimes.  Especially the day they got metal pans and spoons and started a drum line.  *...I may or may not have shut them in the play room and said they had to keep the band in there and not come out until they were done playing their song...*

Here is where we spent the majority of our time.  I LOVE the detail of this camp and the decor is awesome.  Just those antler chandliers are amazing themselves, not to mention the stage and the way they hid doors and closets by making them look like they are store fronts in the West.  My parents came to visit and said that everything (particularly the Dining Hall and the Adult Guest Lodge) was nicer than many high class ski resorts they visit frequently.  They loved it.

The Dining hall had at least 30 more tables in it the first week we were there.  I think it was the biggest camp week they'd ever had.  We used every round table on camp and didn't have enough bowls to go around.  Sorry summer staff...

View from the top of the zip-line.  My parents actually did this and LOVED it!  I wish they could have done more, but there was not enough time and the campers pretty much got first priority.

 We spent almost any free time we had in these chairs.  Just watching kids and leaders and sunsets.  I love how strategically placed they are.  Thanks to the maintenance guy (he's in the pic) for mowing this gorgeous grass so many times that it looks amazing every day! 

Here's an inside shot of the clubroom.  Seth and I spent almost every day on this stage sharing our testimonies with a total of 1400 kids in something we call Life Signs.  It was awesome to share Christ with so many students and to hear them react and relate to our lives.  Thank you Jesus for using my crap to draw others toward you!

Well, that is all for now.  Hope you guys have a good idea of what we've been up to for the last few weeks.  It seems like we've been gone forever and we are glad to be back with our YL kiddos and leaders.  Too bad we are going on vacation.  MUCH needed vacation.